4/150: Rainbows and Death in the Canadian Pacific

Did you see Star Wars Rogue One? Don’t worry if you missed it! Our latest member of our Canada 150 posts is a Sea Star, and it’s a rogue one; the only species in its genus! An uncommon species known as the rainbow star or red-banded star, it is found along the North American coast of the Pacific Ocean at depths of up to 250 meters.Like other sea stars, it is a predator, which feeds by everting its stomach, wrapping it around the prey, liquefying it with digestive enzymes, and then bringing the contents back inside. It is currently one of several sea star species being threatened by a disease known as Sea Star Wasting Syndrome: a viral disease that ends in body fragmentation and death. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150 #SpeciesAtRisk

3/150: I'm the best there is at what I do, but what I do best isn't very nice – Wolverine, 1982

The Wolverine (Gulo gulo) is an elusive and savage species. Across their Holarctic distribution, wolverines establish large home ranges (100-900 km2) and are found at low densities (one animal per 40-800 km2). Check out this rare footage of a baby wolverine in the wild.

Wolverines have very sharp and strong teeth and their semi-retractable claws are used for digging, climbing, and scaring away predators. They also have large, furry paws that prevent them from sinking in the snow (like snowshoes!). In Canada, there are Eastern and Western populations of wolverines; the Eastern population (Quebec and Labrador) is currently endangered. Reductions to wolverine distributions began in the mid-19th century with the introduction of human settlements and the fur trade. Their thick, hydrophobic fur was highly sought after by hunters for its use in parkas. There are 10 specimens with barcodes on BOLD. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150

Wolverine in the snow as played by Hugh Jackman. A wolverine in the snow, played by him/herself. Photo credits: Pimkie goo.gl/0RetFH, Uusijani goo.gl/WTNxaDA female wolverine sits on a rock while contemplating life, probably. Photo credit: Manfred Werner – Tsui goo.gl/h6fwrR